Mark Yeo
SIBU: Sarawak cueists are gunning for a breakthrough in the 29th National Closed Snooker Championship to be held at M Club Snooker and Dart, Kuala Lumpur from June 4-13.
While admitting it will be an uphill battle team leader Mark Yeo said, “Our target is to qualify for the last 16.”
The other five players in the state squad are 2016 Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship winner Ng Hong Man, runner-up Rolando Lim, Francis Liaw, Elvis Wong and Sim Hong Hui.
Wong and Sim, having decided to join the trip to gain exposure, would be paying their own expenses.
The other four are going under Sarawak Billiards Snooker Sports Federation (SBSSF) tickets.
The National Championship has attracted more than 100 players from throughout the country and is sanctioned by Malaysian Snooker & Billiards Federation (MBSF).
National No. 1 Rory Thor Chuan Leong is strongly tipped to retain his title.
Sarawak players have never reached the last 16 in the tournament with the closest call in the last 32 achieved by Yeo in the past three editions.
“Obviously, the standard of our players are several rungs lower than those top players who not only have more exposure but have competed competitively throughout the year at both local and international tournaments,” Yeo observed.
“That is why we have been lobbying for more (local) tournaments for players to polish their skills,” he lamented.